Australia's Seasonal Worker Program

Vanuatu union encouraged by seasonal workers' rights win

Dozens of ni-Vanuatu on Australia's Seasonal Worker Program last week won a settlement after taking legal action against an agriculture contractor for gross underpayment and mistreatment.

The union's representative Ephraim Kalsakau said the workers had become ill from exposure to chemicals while picking tomatoes.

He said the process towards the settlement has underlined the democratic principles that ni-Vanuatu seasonal workers learn about while abroad.